ix. Visiting Scholars
Purpose and Scope
Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (the University) welcomes faculty members, researchers, clinical experts, and other scholars from higher education institutions, clinical entities, and other professional organizations whose temporary presence supports the University’s educational, scholarly, research, or service mission.
This policy establishes University-specific requirements for the appointment of Visiting Scholars. All Visiting Scholars are also subject to the Mass General Brigham Observership for Educational Purposes Policy, as described below.
Definitions
Visiting Scholar. A faculty member, researcher, clinical expert, or other qualified scholar approved to spend a defined period at the University under the sponsorship of a University faculty member or academic unit. Visiting Scholars may include Visiting Faculty and Visiting Clinical Experts, and Fulbright Visiting Scholars.
Fulbright Visiting Scholar. A Visiting Scholar whose visit is sponsored or supported through an approved Fulbright International program award. Fulbright Visiting Scholars are subject to this policy and the requirements of the applicable Fulbright program.
Faculty Sponsor. The University faculty member who initiates and supports the Visiting Scholar request, serves as the scholar’s primary University contact, and accepts the responsibilities assigned to the sponsor under this policy and the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy. If the Faculty Sponsor will be working with another University faculty member or a clinician at an MGB affiliated site for the scholar to observe, those individuals must be listed as co-sponsors and must also accept responsibility for the scholar under the policy.
Status and Privileges
Visiting Scholars are guests of a University faculty member / sponsoring academic department. Visiting Scholar status may include access to University facilities and resources necessary for approved activities, subject to availability and completion of all applicable approvals and onboarding requirements.
Visiting Scholars are not paid by the University, do not receive employee benefits, are not conferred faculty rank at the University, and are not governed by the personnel policies of the faculty. Any exception involving compensation, reimbursement, or other University support must be approved and documented in advance.
MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy
All Visiting Scholars are subject to the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy throughout the duration of their visit. The MGB policy governs applicable observership requirements, including the permitted scope of activities, sponsor and observer responsibilities, supervision, privacy and confidentiality, access, onboarding, training, health and safety requirements, documentation, and other compliance obligations.
If the activities proposed for a Visiting Scholar fall outside the scope of activities permitted under the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy, the activities may not begin unless the University and MGB have determined that they are permissible and all additional approvals, appointments, agreements, or onboarding requirements have been completed.
Faculty Sponsor Responsibilities
Before requesting a Visiting Scholar appointment, the Faculty Sponsor must review and understand the current MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy. The Faculty Sponsor is responsible for ensuring that the Visiting Scholar understands and adheres to that policy throughout the duration of the visit.
The Faculty Sponsor is also responsible for:
- Submitting complete and accurate information about the proposed visit;
- Ensuring that the scholar’s activities remain within the scope and dates approved by the University;
- Providing or arranging adequate supervision throughout the visit, consistent with the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy;
- Ensuring that all required University and MGB approvals, compliance requirements, and onboarding activities are completed before the visit begins; and
- Promptly notifying the Academic Unit Leader, Dean, and Office of the Provost of concerns, noncompliance, or proposed changes to the approved visit.
Application and Approval
Requests for Visiting Scholar appointments must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Provost in advance of the proposed visit using the Visiting Scholar Application, available on the Office of the Provost Vitals page. The request must describe the purpose and dates of the visit, proposed activities and expected outcomes, Faculty Sponsor, hosting academic unit, and requested University resources or access.
The request must be approved by the Academic Unit Leader and Dean before submission to the Office of the Provost. Final approval is granted by the Office of the Provost. No invitation may be finalized, and the Visiting Scholar may not begin activities or receive University access, until all required approvals and applicable University and MGB compliance and onboarding requirements have been completed.
International Visiting Scholars
International Visiting Scholars must comply with the immigration requirements established in the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy. The University does not sponsor immigration status for Visiting Scholars.
Fulbright Visiting Scholars
Fulbright Visiting Scholars are distinguished from other Visiting Scholars by the nature, duration, and scope of their appointments and Fulbright International Award. While Visiting Scholars ordinarily participate in limited observational activities and are subject to the Mass General Brigham Observership for Educational Purposes Policy, Fulbright Visiting Scholars participate in formal educational and cultural exchange programs sponsored by Fulbright. Their appointments may extend beyond three months and may include teaching, research, curriculum development, scholarly collaboration, presentations, mentorship, and other activities approved as part of their Fulbright project.
Fulbright Visiting Scholars are not subject to the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy solely by virtue of their appointment as Fulbright Scholars. If a Fulbright Visiting Scholar separately participates in clinical observation or another activity governed by the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy, that portion of the scholar’s activities must comply with the policy and receive any required approvals before it begins.
Fulbright Visiting Scholars remain subject to the University’s Visiting Scholar application and approval process. The appointment must be approved in advance by the University Fulbright International liaison, Academic Unit Leader, the Dean of the applicable School, and the Office of the Provost. The request must identify the applicable Fulbright program, the scholar’s approved project and program dates, the proposed University activities, the Faculty Sponsor, the hosting academic unit, and any University facilities, systems, information, or other resources the scholar will require.
Fulbright Visiting Scholars may be granted access to University resources beyond those ordinarily available to Visiting Scholars when that access is necessary to support the approved Fulbright project. Such access may include, as appropriate, University email, library resources, workspace, instructional technology, research resources, and other academic systems or facilities. Access is not automatic and must be approved and arranged through the applicable University processes. Any teaching, research, clinical, laboratory, student-facing, or information-access activities remain subject to the policies, training, agreements, and approvals applicable to those activities.
Fulbright Visiting Scholars must comply with the terms of their Fulbright award program, including requirements related to immigration status, program dates, approved activities, funding, insurance, and reporting. Fulbright International serves as the scholar’s J-1 immigration sponsor and is responsible for the associated immigration documentation and program award administration. The University does not provide separate immigration sponsorship unless expressly approved through an applicable institutional process.
The Faculty Sponsor serves as the Fulbright Visiting Scholar’s primary University contact and is responsible for supporting the scholar’s integration into the academic community, providing appropriate oversight of the approved project, coordinating access to approved University resources, and ensuring completion of all applicable University onboarding and compliance requirements. The Faculty Sponsor must also notify the Academic Unit Leader, Dean, and Office of the Provost of any proposed change to the scholar’s activities, appointment dates, resource needs, or approved project before the change is implemented.
Fulbright Visiting Scholars ordinarily receive funding, insurance, travel support, or other assistance in accordance with the terms of their Fulbright award. Any additional financial or in-kind support provided by the University must be approved and documented in advance. Faculty and academic units interested in hosting a Fulbright Visiting Scholar should collaborate with the University Fulbright International liaison in advance of the award period deadline / visiting scholar application.
Changes, Extensions, and Termination
Any proposed change to the approved dates, Faculty Sponsor, hosting academic unit, activities, location, resource needs, or access must be submitted to the Academic Unit Leader, Dean, and Office of the Provost for approval before the change is implemented. Fulbright Visiting Scholars must also obtain any approval required by their Fulbright sponsor.
The University may modify or terminate a Visiting Scholar appointment or associated access at any time, including for failure to comply with this policy, the MGB Observership for Educational Purposes Policy, applicable Fulbright requirements, or other University or MGB requirements.